KARACHI: Favourite four-year-old colt Thunder Star edged stable-mate colt Thunder Snow by short head to lift the Independence Day Cup as riding boy Mohammad Ramzan stole limelight by performing a hat-trick in the Gymkhana race meeting at the Karachi Racecourse on Sunday.

Thunder Star, who bit the dust in the Leader’s Cup on Aug 8, obliged all and sundry by winning the coveted cup that could not take place last year due to lockdown.

The victorious horse overtook frontrunner Smart Girl after negotiating the bend and despite challenge from Thunder Snow, he managed to cross the winning post just ahead of his opponent.

Bay colt Fantastico fell three lengths behind to grab third spot followed by dark bay horse Robert who completed the frame, another length-and-a-half away.

The trio of owner, rider and trainer — Athar Abbas, Tahir Abbas, Nazir — celebrated the glory. This was Thunder Star’s third victory in four outings, including the Eid-ul-Azha Cup last month.

Earlier Tahir guided favourite chestnut horse Wonderful Smile to a facile two-and-a-half lengths victory over Choice Of The Day to win the supporting event. The back-to-back triumph helped Tahir to complete a double.

Ramzan, 18, produced an incredible performance by winning the first three races of the day. Ramzan opened his campaign by piloting home long shot Race to a length-and-a-quarter victory over Non Stop to clinch the opener as public fancy Thunder Time finished off the frame.

Fresh from the victory he then steered favourite chestnut horse Dictator to a fluent four-and-a-half lengths win over Little Darling to land the next race, and went on to complete the feat while partnering Regardless to a smart seven-length win over Take Care.

Results:

THE INDEPENDENCE DAY PLATE SCALE ORDER VIII — 4 F:

Race (Zia-ur-Rehman) 7-10 (7-7), Mohammad Ramzan 1; Non Stop 8-1, Mohammad Qais 2; Sassy Gold 8-13, Mohammad Sajjad 3; Burraq 9-0 (8-7), Mohammad Asim 4.

Won by 1 ¼ L, 1 L, 3 ½ L. Time: 0.52 3/5 seconds.

Winner trained by Aurangzeb.

THE INDEPENDENCE DAY PLATE SCALE ORDER VII — 4½ F:

Dictator (Mohammad Shakeel) 9-4 (9-1), Mohammad Ramzan 1; Little Darling 8-3, Safdar Hussain 2; Lahori King 8-4 (8-5), Nazil Hussain 3; Meri Chahat 8-9 (8-6), Ali Ehsan 4.

Won by 4 ½ L, 3 L, 3 L. Time: 0.58 2/5 seconds.

Winner trained by Mujahid Ali.

THE INDEPENDENCE DAY PLATE SCALE ORDER V & VI — 4½ F:

Regardless (Syed Sibghatullah Shah Pir Pagara) 8-12 (8-9), Mohammad Ramzan 1; Take Care 8-6 (8-3), Adnan Khan 2; Soldier Star 8-0, Latif 3; Faster Than You 8-6 (8-3), Ali Ehsan 4.

Won by 7 L, 1¼ L, 1 L. Time: 0.57 seconds.

Winner trained by Mohyuddin.

THE INDEPENDENCE DAY PLATE SCALE ORDER III & IV — 4½ F:

Wonderful Smile (M. Waqar Malik & M. Waiz Malik) 9-6, Tahir Abbas 1; Choice of the Day 8-4, Mohammad Amjad 2; Balochistan Queen 7-9, Asad Aksir 3; Starka 7-10, Zaki Zakir 4.

Won by 2½ L, 4 L, 4 L. Time: 0.56 4/5 seconds.

Winner trained by Naseem.

THE INDEPENDENCE DAY CUP — 6 F ROUND BEND:

Thunder Star (Athar Abbas) 8-2, Tahir Abbas 1; Thunder Snow 7-0, Adnan Khan 2; Fantastico 7-0, Zaki Zakir 3; Robert 7-0, Mohammad Qais 4.

Won by S. Head, 3 L, 1½ L. Time: One minute 16 3/5 seconds. Winner trained by Nazir.

Published in Dawn, August 30th, 2021